I will start with Pakistan, because it is more relevant to Derbyshire cricket. I think that Mickey Arthur will be under considerable pressure after today's loss, following on from other under-par performances.
Broadly speaking, the batting has done ok. They have a solid top order, even if they are missing the real 'Wow' factor that Fakhar Zaman brings. He has been struggling with a knee injury and although Shafique and Imam are fine batters, neither has the power of the missing man. Their scores have been in the 'good but gettable' category and the bowling has been woeful.
Haris Rauf has been a major disappointment and I am surprised that he wasn't dropped for this game in favour of either Derbyshire 2023 alumni Zaman Khan or Mohamad Wasim Junior. Usama Mir, who did so well for Worcestershire last season, has also been found out at this level, while Shadab Khan has flattered to deceive and isn't bowling well.
Only Afridi has really looked the part and they look in a similar state of disorganisation to England.
But who should be surprised at England's failure? If, instead of playing 50 over, 300-ball cricket you opt for a 100-ball game, you reap as you sow. Fifty over cricket is similar to the old Gillette Cup and Benson and Hedges Cup - you don't need to slog everything from the word go. I know that some thinking is to get a lightning start then knock it around in the middle overs, but if you lose three wickets in the power play, you still have a long time to bat and half of your specialists are already back in the pavilion.
England have paid the price for a lack of preparation. If you were going to be running the 1500 metres in the Olympics, you wouldn't prepare by taking part in the hundred metre sprint. That's what we did, so my sympathy-ometer is at a very low setting...
Anyway, we will see what happens through the rest of this competition. There must surely be changes for the above two sides, but sadly I can only see India winning this tournament, after they eased past New Zealand yesterday.
The Kiwis are a fine side, but the absence of Williamson is a major blow, as it would be to any side. Take Kohli from India and they are a different eleven. I would also be interested to see how they fare batting first, when he cannot pace a chase as he does so well.
I still think South Africa will be in the mix, but it will depend on crucial bowling personnel staying fit.
Which come to think of it is very similar to Derbyshire next season...
Well Mickey is sure working his magic for Pakistan. Lol
ReplyDeleteMaybe after today MA should be looking to sign a batsman from Afghanistan rather than a bowler from Pakistan !!
DeleteI would have thought that it's quite good news for Derbyshire actually, Simon. The overriding need for the second overseas is a spinner (or one per format) who can bat at eight or higher. For the Blast, Pakistan have three who could probably play that role in the county game, and I suspect they won't be taking all three of Mohammad Nawaz, Shadab Khan and Usama Mir to the WT20.
DeleteNot sure if they work for the Championship mind--wonder if Ramesh Mendis might be an option.
MA says he wants 2 players for each position. We already have Thomson and Samit (when required) so a third spinner (particularly for the Championship) would be overkill. Maybe a batting all-rounder who can turn his arm ? I'm equally intrigued about the identity of signing "no.7"
DeleteMendis would be a fair call, Dave. Somewhat amused at his career best batting of 300, which suggests he is very good, but SL domestic cricket isn't!
DeleteBut MA has said the player will be from Pakistan, where there are similar quality players
I know I shouldn’t be annoyed but the Joe Root interview on the BBC has wound me up.
ReplyDeleteHe states that the England team don’t play enough 50 overs cricket so his suggested solution to the fixture congestion and conflict with the 16.4 is to move the domestic 50 over competition at the expense of the Blast. Ben Stokes hasn’t played a domestic 50 over match since 2014…..so does anyone really think that any England contracted player is going to play in the one day competition rather than going to some random franchise league for mega bucks instead. Absolutely any excuse to not blame the 8 city competition and to hopefully drive the smaller counties out of business.
The BBC even quote Root’s support for the competition based on a 2019 interview but he cannot go against the ECB cronies so his views won’t have changed.
Anyway, rant over!! I cannot believe I may actually want England to lose comprehensively in order to potentially get the ECB to see sense and get rid of some of the arrogant cricketers who are towing the party line. I don’t really have much hope of any sense being seen though.
I can’t wait to start talking about the announcement of Player 7 instead and how they fit in the team.
Gareth
I can't say I want them to lose, but am utterly ambivalent about them. A world cup that leaves England cricket lovers cold should be a real concern for the ECB. It's not the players favoured (and high earning) franchise cricket and that is now glaringly obviously a major part in all this.
ReplyDeleteAndy
What a pitiful bunch of cricketers this England team has become, usually after such an embarrassing debacle the ECB hold's an enquiry this time I doubt that the ECB will hold one this time ,when central contracts first came out the ECB were able to dictate to the contracted players when and where they could play now it would appear that the ECB are powerless to stop it's best players going and playing anywhere in the world whenever they want to classic recent example of this is Ben Stokes instead of getting his knee sorted out prior to the ashes series he was instead playing in the IPL ,the point I am trying to make is that the majority of the current England squad appear to be motivated by money and nothing else England are rapidly going down the same path as what's happened to the West Indies team from being the best most feared team in the world to now where none of their best players want to play for them they would rather be off round the world playing franchise cricket
DeleteWell, that was interesting viewing. England looked beaten before they started, body language awful and look totally shot. Buttler can't cope with captaincy in a crisis. He and others are to used to endless adulation and have no idea of how to react to a crisis.
ReplyDeleteThe end of a cycle, or a slow car crash of an ending?
Maybe putting somke golden numbers, a fast food or E number laden product logo on the shirts might help improve their ability?
Andy
...as long as everyone's happy that they would come out in three different fonts across the eleven players, given what's been going on with the shirts this WC...:-)
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